Alongside the rising cost of basic commodities, public concern over government corruption has soared to its highest level on record, breaking into the top five most urgent national issues for the first time, according to the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey conducted by OCTA Research.
The nationwide survey, conducted from September 25 to 30, 2025, found that 31% of adult Filipinos now consider corruption an urgent national concern-an 18-point jump from 13% in July 2025. The unprecedented rise indicates a major shift in public priorities from purely economic issues to questions of integrity and accountability in governance.
‘This is the first time that corruption has entered the top five national concerns,’ OCTA said, noting that the surge reflects a growing public demand for honesty and transparency in government.
Despite the rise in corruption concerns, controlling the prices of basic goods and services remains the top national issue, cited by 48% of respondents-down slightly from 50% in July.
This was followed by fighting corruption (31%), access to affordable food (31%), improving wages (27%), and reducing poverty (23%).
Concern over job creation, which previously ranked among the top five, fell sharply to 19% this quarter-a seven-point decline from 26% in July. OCTA said the drop may suggest ‘a perceived improvement in employment conditions or a redirection of public focus toward governance issues.’
The call to fight corruption is strongest in the National Capital Region (53%), while Mindanao (18%) registers the lowest concern. The issue resonates most among Class ABC (40%), compared to Class D (31%) and Class E (24%).
Meanwhile, concern over rising prices remains highest in Mindanao (53%), butleast cited in NCR (17%), while access to affordable food is most pressing in Balance Luzon (36%).
The call to increase wages is most pronounced in NCR (33%), the Visayas (29%), and Balance Luzon (28%), with Class D (29%) leading this concern.
Reducing poverty, on the other hand, is most often cited in Balance Luzon (27%) and among Class E respondents (28%), reflecting continuing struggles among lower-income households.
Personal concerns
Despite changing national priorities, Filipinos’ personal concerns have remained stable.
The most urgent personal concern continues to be staying healthy and avoiding illness (63%), followed by having enough to eat every day (49%), finishing schooling or providing education for one’s children (49%), having a secure and well-paying job (46%), and avoiding being a victim of crime (38%).
‘While national anxieties are shifting toward governance, everyday worries-health, food, and education-still define the lived reality of most Filipino families,’ OCTA said.
Health concerns remain highest among Class ABC (80%), while food security is most pressing in Mindanao (56%) and Visayas (55%).
‘Overall, these results indicate that personal priorities among Filipinos have mainly remained stable through the third quarter of 2025, with only minor shifts across categories. While national concerns have shifted toward issues of governance and corruption, personal concerns continue to center on health, food security, and education-core pillars of family welfare and daily stability,’ OCTA added.